Chapter 606: Impressive Girls, An Instant Assessment
Erina and the others were bustling in the kitchen. The rhythmic chopping of knives and the sizzle of hot pans echoed through the hallway. In the quiet of the lounge, Ren sat reading a book. He tapped the screen of his phone, setting a timer.
Ichihara Yuko leaned over the armrest of his chair. She tilted her head, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders. She looked puzzled, wondering why he would set an alarm for no apparent reason in the middle of a peaceful afternoon.
"Ren, why did you set an alarm just now? Are you implying there is something I have forgotten to do?"
Ren glanced at Yuko. He let the silence stretch for a moment before speaking. "You do have something you haven't done."
"What is it? Is it important? If not, I will simply ignore it."
"A very important matter."
Yuko straightened up, her playful demeanor shifting into genuine curiosity. "What is it? Has my memory gotten worse lately?"
"Perhaps. You said you would give me a massage when you came back today. Do you not remember?"
"Eh? Really? But why set an alarm for a massage?"
Ren sighed. He looked at Yuko with the expression of someone caring for a hopeless idiot. He reached out and gently patted her head. "Because I said twenty minutes would be enough. The alarm is to prove it."
Yuko blinked. A look of sudden understanding washed over her features. She lunged forward, pouncing on Ren and lightly biting his shoulder. "Still trying to fool me! When have I ever massaged you for less than half an hour? Twenty minutes? How could I possibly say something like that! Confess honestly!"
Just as she spoke, the phone chimed. The alarm rang through the room. Ren reached up and gently squeezed Yuko's cheek. "It is time to check on their progress. Do you want to go see?"
Yuko released her playful grip and nodded.
Ren stood up. "Let us go. I wonder what state they are in right now, especially Riven and Alice."
"What is there to worry about with Riven? Is she not quite good? As for Alice, is she not a highly talented Totsuki student?"
"She is a Molecular Gastronomy expert, not a traditional culinary expert. Alright, you would not understand even if I explained the nuances. Just come inside with me."
Yuko snorted, crossing her arms. "If I do not understand, I can learn. Molecular Gastronomy. What exactly is that?"
"Molecular Gastronomy. Well, you can understand it as strange cuisine."
Yuko did not know exactly how this strange cuisine operated, but she knew it must be something quite outlandish to earn such a title from him.
In truth, most people struggled to accept Molecular Gastronomy. Alice was one of the few who could effortlessly integrate familiar spices and ingredients into the scientific process, making the final product genuinely palatable.
Inside the kitchen, the atmosphere was thick with the rich aromas of simmering broth and roasting meat.
"Alice, are you suddenly changing the menu? Is there enough time?"
"Yes, because I suddenly remembered that Provence Fish Soup requires lean fish, so I can use tomatoes. In that case, making borscht or a Russian soup would be a much better choice. Since all of your dishes carry heavy, strong flavors, something appetizing and acidic is needed to balance the palate."
"That is a good point. Alice, your pairing logic is quite sound."
Alice opened her mouth to reply when she suddenly turned her head toward the doorway. Erina followed her gaze, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Shopkeeper Ren? Why are you in the kitchen?"
"To check on your progress. Not bad. Riven, what are you doing?"
Riven stood near the cutting board, her posture rigid and attentive. "Rindou just taught me how to cut beef for stew. I am observing."
Ren nodded. He turned his gaze to Alice, offering a faint smile. "I am really looking forward to your borscht. Well then, keep up the good work. I will not disturb you any further."
Yuko followed him back out into the hallway, looking utterly bewildered the entire time. What was that? He just walked in, took a single glance around the room, and left? Was he being serious?
Once the kitchen door swung shut behind them, Yuko voiced her confusion. "You just went into the kitchen, took a look, and you are done? What exactly did you go in there to see?"
"Based on the time, they have just started the crucial steps of preparation. A quick look is enough to know the final outcome. It is not bad, but they are still far from perfect."
Yuko sighed, shaking her head helplessly. "I am really impressed with you. You know everything just by looking. How is it? Whose cooking is better?"
Ren thought for a moment. "If I had to say, Rindou's cooking is the best among them."
Yuko smiled, leaning against the wall. "Eh, are you sure you are not just taking Rindou's side? You are not the only judge here, so do not be too obvious with your favoritism."
Ren smiled and shook his head. "There is no need for that. Rindou's skill is genuinely impressive. She just had a slight problem with the potatoes, a minor issue in temperature control. But what I did not expect was that Hisako handled the lamb surprisingly well."
"Lamb. Speaking of which, I have not had lamb in a long time."
Ren looked at Yuko's expectant expression. He nodded slowly. "Alright, I will make you some lamb tonight, and then your Buddha Jumps Over the Wall."
"Are you really going to threaten my big meal? That is too much!"
Ren sighed, his tone turning soft and teasing. "Lamb. I suddenly thought of a very interesting dish. I will try it tomorrow."
"Eh? What is it?"
"Pearl Emerald White Jade Soup, featuring a single slice of lamb."
"That is enough from you!"
Time passed steadily. Ren picked up his phone from the counter, turning off the final timer. Rindou and the other girls pushed a large dining cart out of the kitchen. Yuko cheered at the sight of the food, her stomach practically starving after the long wait.
On the other side of the room, Nami set down her stack of documents. Ren had called her down from her paperwork midway through the cooking process. Seeing the table completely covered in elegant dishes, Nami felt a surge of curiosity regarding the culinary skills of these students.
The appetizer was a delicate sole fish salad. The main courses followed the exact menu they had discussed earlier, presented without any unnecessary side dishes to distract from the core flavors. The dessert was a rich, frothy Sabayon. The chosen drink was a crisp sparkling water mixed with fresh juice, as minors were strictly forbidden from drinking alcohol in Japan.
Yuko was never a picky eater, though her absolute favorite food would always remain Ren's cooking. Erina and the other girls took their seats around the large dining table. With the exception of Rindou, who looked entirely relaxed, the other four girls were visibly nervous.
Nami leaned forward, her eyes scanning the beautiful plating. "Oh! These dishes look amazing. Are you all really still students? This is far too impressive."
Yuko nodded in agreement. Although she was a massive foodie, she always ate with refined elegance. Riven sat quietly, giving a small nod of acknowledgement. While Nami was usually very considerate of others, this time she was not just being polite. The food truly looked exceptional.
Ren picked up his fork. He took a slow, deliberate bite of the appetizer. He chewed quietly, smiled, and said absolutely nothing.
Erina gripped the edge of the table, her voice tight with anticipation. "Shopkeeper Ren, how is it?"
Ren set his fork down. "Eating is eating, and eating is also judging. This is not a formal competition. This is a normal meal among friends. You will know the answer once you have finished eating."
"Oh!" the four girls replied in unison.
[Akarin's Note: "Pearl Emerald White Jade Soup" (珍珠翡翠白玉汤) is a famous dish from Chinese folklore, often associated with the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang. While starving, he was given a soup made of leftover spinach (emerald), tofu (white jade), and crust (pearl). It sounds incredibly fancy, but it is traditionally a peasant dish made from cheap scraps!]
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